Rural mail box supports



Nov. 8, 1955 c. c. MOORE 2,723,093

RURAL MAIL BOX SUPPORTS Filed Feb. 26, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VENT ORCHAFFIN QMooRE.

ATTORNEY NOV. 8, c, c RURAL MAIL BOX SUPPORTS Filed Feb. 216, 1953 2Sheets-Sheet 2 rm 2 t 5 mm ON 3. ow my J INVENTGF CHAFFIN C l my MooRr.

ATTORNEY United. States Patent Ofiice 2,723,098 Patented Nov. 8, 1955RURAL MAIL BOX SUPPORTS Chafiin C. Moore, Winston-Salem, N. C.

Application February 26,1953, Serial No. 339,034

4 Claims. (Cl. 248-128) My invention relates to rural mail boxes, andmore particularly to a movable support therefor.

Rural mail boxes are usually'located near the right hand side of theroad, and the postman in the drivers seat at the left hand side of themail delivery truck must leave the truck to deposit the mail in the mailbox. An important object of the present invention is to provide amovable mail box support which may be pulled forwardly by the postmanfrom the drivers seat, by means of a hook or the like, to enable thepostman to deposit the mail without leaving the drivers seat.

Another object is to provide a movable support for rural mail boxeswhich necessitates no structural changes in conventional rural mailboxes.

A further object is to provide a movable mail box support which issimplified in construction, rugged and durable, and cheap tomanufacture.

A further object is to provide a movable support ofthe above mentionedcharacter which is" protected or shielded by the mail box from theelements;

A. still further object is to provide a movable mail box support whichmay be pulled forwardly and returned to the retracted position by the.postman in the mail delivery vehicle.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent duringthe course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and inwhich. like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout thesame,

Figure l is a side elevation of my movable rural mail box support in theextended position, part broken away,

Figure 2 is a similar side elevation of the support in the normal orretracted position,

Figure 3 is an. enlarged fragmentary side elevation of the movablesupport and associated elements,

Figure 4 is a fragmentary central vertical longitudinal section throughthe device illustrated in Figure 3,

Figure 5 is a plan view of the movable support, with the rural mail boxremoved,

Figure 6 is a longitudinal vertical section taken on line '66 of Figure5,

Figure 7 is a transverse vertical section taken on line 7-7 of Figure 3,

Figure 8 is a similar section taken on line 8'8 of Figure 3,

Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken on line 99 ofFigure 5, and

Figure 10 is a horizontal. section. taken on line 10--10 of Figure 9.

In the drawings, where for the purpose of illustration is shown apreferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral designates an uprightpost or other suitable fixed support, anchored in the ground adjacent tothe side of the road. My movable mailbox mounting or support 16 isarranged at the top of the post 15, and includes a flat mounting plate17, rigidly secured to the .top of the post by means ofnails'iIS,screws, or the like.

The mounting plate 17 carries an integral rigid upwardly offsetextension 19, spaced slightly above the top of the post 15' andextending somewhat forwardly thereof, and the plate extension 19 isarranged at a slight angle of inclination to the mounting plate 17, asshown clearly in Figure 4. The plate extension 19 slopes upwardly,forwardly of the mounting plate 1 7 and post, as shown, for a purpose tobe described. The mounting plate 17 and plate extension 19- preferablyextend for the entire width of the post 15, Figures 7 and 8.

A pair of generally horizontal parallel channel-shaped guide rails ortracks 20 are provided above the post 15, andthese channel-shaped tracksinclude lower generally horizontal flanges orwebs 21, rigidly secured bywelding or the like near their longitudinal centers to the oppositesides of the elevated plate extension 19, Figure 5. The flanges 21- ofthe tracks 20' are arranged in the plane of the inclined plate extension19, and are themselves slightly inclined with respect tothe horizontal,as shown. The lower flanges 21 are further rigidly connected at theirrear ends bya transverse bar or plate 22, welded or otherwise rigidly'secured thereto. A similar transverse bar or plate 23 is rigidly securedto the lower guide rail flanges 21 near and slightly rearwardly of theirforward ends, as shown.

The channel-shaped tracks 20 further comprise outer vertical sides 24,integrally connected with the lower flanges 21, and extending above thesame. Upper track sides or flanges 25 are integrally secured to thevertical sides 24, and extend laterally inwardly thereof in spacedparallel superposed relation to the lower flanges '21. The innerlongitudinal edges 26 of the upper track flanges 25 terminatesubstantially at the transverse centers of the lower flanges 21, whichare preferably about twice as wide as the upper flanges 25. The inneropposed sides and opposite ends of the channel-shaped tracks 20 areopen, as indicated. The tracks: 20 extend forwardly and rearwardly ofthe post 15 for substantial distances, and are inclined upwardly towardtheir forward ends, due to the inclination of the mounting plateextension 19, upon which the tracks: 20 are bodily mounted.

The numeral 27 designates generally a carriage for a rural mail box 28of conventional construction. This carriage comprises av pair ofelongated parallel longitudinal arms or bars 28, of approximately thesame length as the tracks 20, and rigidly connected at their forwardends by an arcuate pull bar 29, welded or otherwise rigidly secured.thereto. If desired, thepull bar 29 may be covered by a section ofrubber tubing 30 or the like- The arms 28 are further rigidly connectedat longitudinally spaced points by transverse braces 31, having lowerextensions or feet 32, welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the innersides of the arms 28, Figures 7 and 8'. These feet 32 are at'theelevation of the arms 28, and consequently below the upper trackflanges 25, the arms 28 being disposed between the upper and lowertrackflanges 2'1 and 25, just inwardly of the vertical track sides 24.The transverse braces 31 have elevated central body portions 33, spaceda considerable distance above the tracks 20, and carrying transversemounting brackets 34, welded or otherwise rigidly secured thereto. Thetransverse mounting brackets 34 extend laterally beyond the outer sidesof the tracks 20 for slight distances, and the mounting brackets 34 areprovided at their ends with short depending apertured extensions 35,integral therewith. The extensions 35 are vertical, and their lower endsterminate just above the upper track flanges 25, and slightly outwardlyof the vertical track sides 24, Figures 7 and 8. its mounting bracket34' are arranged near and somethe forwardmost brace 31 and bracket 34'are arranged The rearmost brace 31 and near and rearwardly the forwardends of the arms 28, Figure 5.

The lower track flanges 21 are provided just rearwardly of their forwardends with longitudinal slots 36, within which a pair of forward rollers37 are arranged for rotation. The forward rollers 37 are freelyjournaled for rotation upon transverse horizontal wire axles 38, Figures9 and 10, arranged above and close to the lower track flanges 21, andtransversely thereof. The outer ends of the axles 38 are anchored withinsmall openings 39 formed within the vertical track sides 24, just abovethe flanges 21 and near the forward ends of the tracks. The inner endsof the wire axles 38 carry loop extensions 40, integral therewith whichextend about the inner longitudinal edges of the track flanges 21 andare anchored within small V-shaped notches 41, formed in the edges ofthe flanges 21, Figures 9 and 10. The remote ends of the loop extensions40 are upturned, and anchored within small openings 42 formed within thetrack flanges 21, inwardly of the notches 41 and below the axles 38. Thewire axles 38 are thus held stationary, relative to the tracks 20, andthe forward rollers 37 are freely rotatable, but held against axialmovement upon the axles 38 by the slots 36, Figures 9 and 10. Therollers 37 are positioned at the transverse centers of the upper trackflanges 25 and longitudinal arms 23. The arms 28 rest upon the forwardrollers 37 and are movably supported hereby just beneath the upper trackflanges 25 and close to such track flanges, as best shown in Figure 9.

Rear end portions 43 of the arms 28 are downwardly inclined slightly,Figure 4, and slotted at 43, for the reception of rear rollers 44,journaled for rotation upon short transverse pins or axles i5, rigidlysecured within openings formed in the rear ends of the arms 28. The rearrollers 44 are arranged in longitudinal alignment with the forwardrollers 37, and the rear rollers and rear inclined portions 43 maintainthe longitudinal arms 28 elevated close to the bottoms of the uppertrack flanges 25. The rear rollers 44 support the rear ends of the arms28 and move with the arms through the channelshaped tracks 20. Thediameters of the rear rollers M are such that the rear rollers have aclose running fit between the upper and lower track flanges 2.5 and 21,as shown.

A longitudinal guide rod 46 is arranged midway between the arms 28, andparallel therewith and near the elevation of the arms, and the forwardend portion 47 of the guide rod is inclined downwardly slightly, Figure4-, and rigidly secured by welding or the like to the arcuate pull bar29, at the center of the latter. The guide rod as is slidable through anopening in an upstanding guide element 48, rigidly mounted upon theforward transverse bar 23, at the longitudinal center of the same.Enlargements or heads 49 are formed upon the guide rod 46 at its rearend and near and rearwardly of its forward end. Rubber bumper elementsor washers 59 are mounted upon the guide rod 46 adjacent to the heads4%, for engagement with the upstanding guide element 48, which serves asa stop to limit the forward and rearward movement of the carriage 27.The longitudinal guide rod 46 extends throughout substantially theentire length of the carriage 27, and the rear end of the guide rod isunsupported.

The rural mail box 28' has its bottom 51 resting upon the transversemounting brackets 34, and the bottom 51 carries depending side flangesor skirts 52, integral therewith, and arranged upon the outer sides ofthe depending bracket extensions 35. The mail box further comprisesvertical sides 53 which extend downwardly over the depending skirts 52,in contacting relation therewith, Figures 7 and 8. Bolts 54 extendthrough openings in the sides 53, skirts 52 and extensions 35, and

erve to rigidly secure these elements together. The

depending skirts 52 and the sides 53 of the rural mail box extend forsome distance below the upper flanges 25 of the tracks 20, and arespaced slightly beyond the outer sides 24 of the tracks. The sides 53and skirts 52 extend continuously throughout the entire length of therural mail box, which is slightly longer than the tracks 20, Figures 2and 3. The arrangement is such that the depending skirts 52 and thesides 53 of the mail box shield and protect the tracks 20 and associatedelements from rain and the elements. The bottom 51 of the mail boxcovers substantially the entire movable carriage 27 at all times, andalso covers the tracks 20 when in the normal retracted position shown inFigure 2.

in use, the carriage 27 is normally in the retracted or inner positionshown in Figure 2, wherein the longitudinal arms 28 are housed withinthe channel-shaped tracks 20, and the forward rubber bumper element 50is in engagement with the stop 48. The mail box 28 now shields thecarriage 27 and tracks 20 and associated elements from rain and thelike. Due to the slight rearward inclination of the tracks 20, thecarriage 27 and mail box 23 will tend to remain in the retractedposition shown in Figure 2.

When the postman stops at the mail box to deposit the mail, he uses ahook, such as a cut-off walking cane, or the like, to engage the pullbar 29 and draws the carriage 27 forwardly to the extended position ofFigure 1, wherein the rear bumper element 50 engages the stop 48 tolimit the forward movement of the carriage 27 and mailbox. The postmanmay then deposit the mail in the mail box 28' from the drivers seat ofthe delivery vehicle, and return the carriage and mail box to theretracted position of Figure 2 with his hook implement, or the like. Themail box and carriage are then out of the way of other vehicles passingalong the road, and the delivery of the mail has been accomplishedwithout the postman leaving the drivers seat. The slope or inclinationof the tracks 20 is not intended to cause the mail box to returnautomatically to the retracted position, but merely causes the mail boxto tend to remain in the retracted position, without the likelihood ofshifting to the forward or extended position until pulled forwardly bythe postman.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention, herewith shownand described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, andthat various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may beresorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention or scopeof the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a rural mail box support, a pair of spaced substantiallyhorizontal tracks including upper and lower track flanges, a mountingplate arranged between the tracks and secured thereto and adapted to besecured to the top of a post or the like and bodily carrying the tracks,a pair of spaced elongated arms arranged between said upper and lowertrack flanges and being of substantially the same length as said tracks,a pair of forward rollers journaled upon the tracks near their forwardends and engaging the bottoms of said arms and supporting the arms, apair of rear rollers rotatably mounted upon the arms near their rearends and disposed between said upper and lower track flanges andsupporting the arms, transverse members secured to the arms atlongitudinally spaced points upon the same and projecting above theupper track flanges and adapted to be secured to the rural mail box forsupporting the same, and a transverse bar connecting the arms near theirforward ends and serving as a means for shifting said armslongitudinally of the tracks.

2. In a rural mail box support, a pair of spaced generally horizontaltracks, a mounting plate arranged between the tracks near theirlongitudinal centers and secured to the tracks and adapted to be securedto the top of a post or the like, the mounting plate being somewhatinclined longitudinally with respect to the tracks so that the tracksslope upwardly somewhat toward their forward ends when the mountingplate is secured to the post, a pair of elongated arms movably connectedwith the tracks and shiftable longitudinally of the tracks and beingsubstantially co-extensive with the tracks when in a retracted position,a transverse bar connecting the arms near their forward ends and adaptedto be engaged for pulling the arms forwardly within the tracks to anextended position, a longitudinal rod secured to said transverse bar andextending rearwardly thereof between the tracks and arms and carryinglongitudinally spaced bumper elements, a stop device secured to thetracks near their forward ends and engageable with the bumper elementsto limit the forward and rearward longitudinal movement of said arms,and a pair of transverse mounting brackets secured to said arms atlongitudinally spaced points upon the same and having parts arrangedabove the tracks and arms for attachment to the rural mail box andadapted to support the mail box.

3. In a support for a rural mail box, a pair of spaced substantiallyhorizontal tracks including upper and lower track flanges, a membersecured to the lower track flanges near the longitudinal centers of thetracks and adapted to be secured to a post or the like, a pair ofelongated arms arranged between the upper and lower track flanges andshiftable longitudinally of the tracks, means connected with said armsto limit the extent of their longitudinal movement relative to thetracks in both directions, transverse members connecting the arms atlongitudinally spaced points upon the same and having parts spaced abovethe upper track flanges for receiving and supporting the rural mail box,rollers rotatably secured to the arms near their rear ends andsupporting the rear ends of the arms in closely spaced relation to saidupper track flanges, said rollers operating between said upper and lowertrack flanges, said lower track flanges having slots formed therein neartheir forward ends, said lower track flanges being provided in theirinner longitudinal edges and opposite said slots with notches,transverse axles arranged above said lower track flanges adjacent tosaid slots and notches and extending across said slots, loopedextensions secured 6 to said transverse axles and engaging within thenotches and secured therein, and rollers journaled upon said transverseaxles and projecting into the slots and having their tops spaced abovesaid lower track flanges and engaging the bottoms of said arms andsupporting the arms in closely spaced relation to said upper trackflanges.

4. A supporting device comprising, a pair of spaced substantiallyparallel channel-shaped guide rails, each guide rail including an outerclosed side, a top flange and a bottom flange, each guide rail havingits inner side open, a member connected with the guide rails and holdingthem in fixed relation and adapted for connection with a post or likesupport, a pair of elongated arms mounted within the channel-shapedguide rails and covered by the same throughout the major portion oftheir length when the arms are in the inner position, a transversemember disposed forwardly of the guide rails and secured to the forwardends of said arms to move the arms longitudinally, a rod secured to thetransverse member and extending between said arms throughout the majorportion of the length of said arms, a bracket secured to said guiderails and including an apertured element slidably receiving said rod,stop devices carried by the rod for coaction with the apertured element,rollers arranged within the channel-shaped guide rails near theirforward ends and disposed beneath said arms and supporting said arms,

rollers secured to the rear ends of said arms and arranged,

within said channel-shaped guide rails to travel therein, at least onebrace having its lower ends extending beneath the top flanges of theguide rails and secured to said arms, said brace extending above the topflanges of said guide rails, and a mail box including a bottom wallwhich is secured to the top of said brace, said bottom covering the topflanges of the guide tracks.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS911,821 Kirk et a1. Feb. 9, 1909 956,696 Frost May 3, 1910 979,565Rogers Dec. 27, 1910 1,751,536 Thomson Mar. 25, 1930

